Talking is a skill we normally learn at a very young age.

Talking, though, is just one part of communication. Communication also includes listening, showing understanding, reading and writing. Some people have difficulties with communication.

The aim of speech and language therapy is to help people communicate in the best way they can.

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) also help people who have problems with swallowing.

The sort of problem a patient might have could be with:

• speaking because muscles don't work properly
• making the right sounds
• remembering the right sounds or words
• understanding what is said to them
• stammering
• swallowing because of an accident or illness.

There are others.

SLTs can work in different places. They might work in a hospital with inpatients (people staying in hospital) and outpatients (people who come for an appointment and then go home). They might work in health centres or day centres. They work sometimes in schools, in special units in schools, and in schools especially for children with disabilities. Speech and language therapists might go to their patients' homes.

Speech and language therapists work with people of all ages – children and adults. Patients may need help with their communication and swallowing after a stroke or head injury; they may have a disease that affects the brain like Parkinson's disease. Patients may have a hearing or voice problem. SLTs also work with people who have learning disabilities.

The range of possible problems that SLTs can help with is wide.